GM kept the US Chevette too late. Same with the Vega based Monza. GM needed a smaller FWD, efficient commuter to overwhelm the market. Instead we got the interesting but flawed Fiero, and clunky Chevette. I bought a Dodge/Mitsubishi Colt that year, with the 4L/4H tranny. Fun car. Quick, but red-lined at 92 mph. Still got 32 mpg.
One of the problems regarding the Chevette is the failure of GM to replace the Chevette with a more suitable Front Wheel Drive model before the 1981 or 1982 model year. Something else that GM should have done with the Chevette was to start the development when the development of the T Platform (That the Chevette was built on) was started.
Here is how the product life of the Chevette in the U.S. market could have been if it was done right (Mainly major updates listed here).
1974 - Chevette gets introduced for the 1974 model year (2 years earlier than OTL) offering 3 and 5 door hatchback 4 door sedan and 5 Door Station wagon versions.
1980 - All new redesigned Front Wheel Drive Chevette is introduced which will be the based on the Opel Kadett D but with sealed beam headlights and Redesigned Bumpers (That meet U.S. safety standards). 5 Speed manual becomes an option. Scooter model no longer available for retail sales.
1981 - Retail sales of both the sedan and station wagon versions of the Chevette are discontinued midway in the model year to make room in the lineup for the soon to be introduced Cavalier. A Diesel engine becomes available. 3 Point seat belts in the back seat (Center lap belt in the back seat) become standard.
1982 - The sedan and station wagon versions of the Chevette are discontinued as the all new Cavalier goes on sale. Fuel injected engines (TBI) become an option (Standard in California). Scooter model dropped too.
1984 - Final year for Carburetors.
1985 - Chevette gets redesigned for it's third generation based on the Opel Kadett E but again with sealed beam headlights (As the development of this generation started prior to the use of composite headlamps being approved by the NHTSA) and Redesigned Bumpers to meet all the U.S. safety standards. Fuel injection (Still TBI) becomes standard.
1986 - The sealed beam headlights on the Chevette get replaced with the aerodynamic composite headlights used on the Kadett E but with SAE complainant bulbs.
1987 - Diesel engine dropped due to both falling sales and the Oil Glut and a 4 Speed automatic becomes an option.
1988 - The trim line is completely overhauled (Base, S, CL, and RS) and Multi-port Fuel Injection becomes an option.
1990 - For the final year of this generation the Chevette gets automatic seat belts (There would be no reason for GM to add an airbag to the existing Chevette when the redesigned model is in the works) and the 3 Speed Automatic is dropped.
1991 - The Chevette is redesigned for it's forth generation adding a Drivers side Airbag based on the Opel Astra F. CS model replaces both the Base and S trim lines.
1992 - High performance Z22 Chevette becomes available. Anti-Lock brakes become an option (Standard on the Z22).
1994 - The Chevette is given a facelift (Includes chassis refinement) and adds a Passenger side Airbag.
1998 - The Chevette is redesigned for it's fifth generation and adds second generation Airbags based on the Opel/Vauxhall Astra G.
2003 - The Center lap belt gets replaced with a 3 Point Seat Belt and Anti-Lock Brakes now standard.
2004 - Final year for the T Body Platform and the 3 door hatchbacks.
2005 - A all new Chevette (Will be based on the Astra H) for it's sixth generation debuts now built on the same platform that the either a new generation Cavalier (If it gets fully redesigned ITTL) or it's replacement (If the Cavalier is discontinued in 2005 as IOTL) is built on.
2007 - 5 Speed automatic and a 6 Speed Manual becomes an option.
2009 - 4 Speed Automatic and 5 Speed manual dropped.
2010 - Chevette is redesigned for it's seventh generation (based on the Astra J). 6 Speed Manual now standard and a 6 Speed Automatic now the only Automatic transmission available.
2014 - New Clean Diesel introduced.
2016 - Redesigned Chevette (Based on the Astra K) debuts for it's eighth and final generation (Due to declining sales of Small Cars in favor of crossover SUV's).
2019 - Trim lines are modified (LT model replaces both the 1LT and 2LT models and the base L model dropped)
2020 (Projected) - Final year for the Chevette (Production is schedued to cease on September of 2020).